6' x 10' 6" Period 1920's Art Deco "Japanese Forest" Pattern Hardwick & Magee Wilton Rug (Circa 1925 - 1935).

Please click on the picture above for an enlargement.
Hardwick & Magee Company was located within the Philadelphia city block of North 7th Street, Marshall Street, and Lehigh Avenue. The mill photograph on the right shows the new addition to the mill built in 1926.
As with most other mills, Hardwick & Magee was a combination of two earlier mills. Hartford Saxony, Bigelow-Hartford, and Bigelow-Sanford were other companies which experienced similar mergers which usually evolved as companies worked to corner their markets and put their competition out of business by absorbing their competitors.
In the case of Hardwick & Magee, it is unclear as to the specific reasons for their marriage. Magee was recognized as one of the carpet company "giants" within Philadelphia during the 19teens and early 1920s. This is referenced in two different discussions within Helene Von Rosenstiel's "American Rugs and Carpets" 1978.

Following the trends of most early mills, the production of carpet began in the ingrain or "scotch carpet" industry. This product was a very thin and flimsy double-face cloth woven with repetative patterns and intended for use as a decorative carpet. As each mill embraced success and growth, the mill, like Magee's original company, would add axminister, velvet, and wilton carpets to their repertoire.

What eventually happened to the mill is also unclear. Though it is clear that the Hardwick & Magee legacy still lives on today with the exceptionally high quality carpets that were woven on their looms. We have had the pleasure of handling many of their decorative carpets during the last 40 years. Many of these wilton rugs were guaranteed for atleast 15 years when they were sold new from the Mills. The continued lasting and wonderful condition of these pieces is a testament to the discriminating and fastidious workmanship of the Wilton weavers. The fine worstered wool will still gaurentee many years of use by a caring owner. The fantastic design is indeed very desirable to the connoisseur, collector and to the home owner with a taste for the finer historical rugs and antiquities.

Click on any picture for an enlargement.

CONDITION: As detailed in the photographs, the rug has full consitent pile along all borders with a low and worn field. There are several small areas along one side which show tinting (tinting is known to decrease and often disappear with use). The original fringe was missing -- we recommend replacement with a genuine Shaneybrook knotted wilton fringe appropriate to the age of this rug.

Although the original shown herein is available, we highly recommend this pattern for reproduction on our historic jacquard wire wilton looms.

CLEANING: This rug has been professionally hand cleaned by our own conservation team with a restorative thorough washing adhering to National Institute of Textiles and AIC (American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works) guidelines. The protein and lanolin based soap conditions the natural fibres in the rug and returns the original lustrous character and richness of colour to the wool. No steam extraction methods or chemical detergents were used during the cleaning process. Ever step possible was taken to preserve the historic nature and conserve the rugs condition.

We do not use ANY optical enhancers of any kind (natural or chemical). Optical enhancers damage and pull dye to the surface of the rug's fibres, slowly stripping colour and character from the wool as the rug continues to age. Beware of descriptions claiming use of such materials and harsh cleaning methods to "brighten, add a sheen, or antique wash" the rugs -- all these methods deteriorate and damage these wonderful vintage and antique pieces beyond repair.

When replacing fringes, we weave and match historically accurate materials and fringe styles to retain the original character of the rug. Fringes are properly sown on the rug, in the original method. We do not glue fringes. We do not use "stock" oriental fringes from oriental rug dealers in New York or abroad. We do not cut, shorten, or "straighten" ends or in anyway take away from the body or structure of the rug. Beware of fringe replacements that have shortened, cut, and surged ends to put a new fringe on -- these unethical and unsound methods destroy the rug and significantly reduce the value of these pieces. Inappropriate fringe replacement can be seen when the end and/or gaurd borders mysteriously disappear under fringe or are missing from the pattern.

Click here to contact Shaneybrook about this rug. Reference Number: #1642